OP velar fricative orthography

[Mark J Awakuni-Swetland]

27 June 2006

Aloha all,

The UmoNhoN Language and Culture Center at UmoNhoN Nation Public School 
has partnered with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Omaha language team 
to compile a beginning Omaha textbook. We are trying to hammer out 
orthographic representations that are acceptable to the widest Omaha 
community of language learners.

We are discussing the velar fricative. We wanted to solicit your comments 
on the various representations. WibthahoN.

Dorsey          voiced [x]                      voiceless [q] 
Fletcher/LaFlesche      voiced [x]                      voiceless [x] 
Larson          voiced [x-underdot]             voiceless [x-hachek]
Lakota          voiced [g-hachek]               voiceless [h-hachek]
Interim UNL/ULCC        voiced [gh]                     voiceless [x]
ULCC proposed   voiced [x]                      voiceless [xx]

Some explanation:

Ideally, we would prefer a single symbol for each sound. From the ULCC/UNL 
perspective, diacritics are seen as confusing to the adults who are not in 
a formal learning environment but who wish to be able to read the Omaha 
they already know – primarily the Fletcher and La Flesche text which does 
not mark the difference.

The [gh] diagraph and using [q] present similar problems as the diacritics 
in probably being unrecognizable without instruction.

The most recent proposal from the ULCC is the voiceless double [xx] and 
voiced single [x]. The reasoning being that regardless of sound quality, 
everyone would recognize the [x] and pronounce the word closer to correct 
than otherwise.

Examples:

xxude ‘gray’
xxuga ‘badger’
xage ‘cry’
xebe ‘shallow’
xthi ‘sore; pus’
xthabe ‘tree’


Mark Awakuni-Swetland, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Anthropology-Geography
Ethnic Studies (Native American Studies)
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
841 Oldfather Hall
Lincoln, NE 68588-0368

mawakuni-swetland2 at unlnotes.unl.edu
Office: 402-472-3455
FAX: 402-472-9642

UmoNhoN ie thethudi
Omaha Language Spoken Here
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